the looming fiscal cliff to the ongoing con tro versus over the nra's recent comments following the sandy hook elementary strategy. a lot to discuss with david gregory, moderator of "meet the press." the president and congress have left town for the holidays. any chance they might come back early, any sense of a deal in the works? >> i think there is a deal in the works. it is just a smaller deal. they will be back next thursday. i have been talking to folks on capitol hill and the white house. i think they are going for a smaller deal that could put off some of the effects of the fiscal cliff and get a tax cut extension for those making $250,000 or less. wealthier americans would pay for. you would avoid the fiscal cliff for now. you kick the can down the road. this is washington dysfunction at its height but it would forestal the cliff >>> i wonder if we are seeing a change to speaker boehner that got his hand slapped by some members of his party. is there long-term damage here? >> the white house is that they don't have a real partner to negotiate with. republicans are facing a reality